Key plays: Start with the first play, with Matthew Stafford just throwing a deep ball up for grabs and Calvin Johnson coming down with it over Steve Gregory and Quentin Jammer. The 46-yard pass put Detroit in San Diego territory, and the Lions eventually scored on a third-down pass from Stafford to Brandon Pettigrew, who beat Na’il Diggs on third down. The Chargers failed to hold serve, with Philip Rivers missing Antonio Gates on third-and-1 near midfield, and pinned the Lions at their 3. But that didn’t matter, as Stafford completed third-down passes to Nate Burleson and Titus Young and threw a 21-yard pass to Johnson and Kevin Smith ran for 21 yards before Eric Weddle knocked away a pass to Johnson in the end zone. Jason Hanson came on to kick a 50-yard field goal.

Key stats: Detroit had two possessions and gained 144 yards (115 passing), gained eight first downs and scored 10 points. The Chargers had one possession (plus one play) and gained 45 yards.

Not in the box score: The Chargers had scored on their opening possession in seven straight games before failing Saturday.

SECOND QUARTER

Lions 24, Chargers 0

Key plays: The Chargers failed to move the ball again, and despite poor field position the Lions had little trouble marching down the field for another touchdown. Starting at their own 13, the Lions went 87 yards, with the big plays coming on Matthew Stafford passes of 12 and 26 yards to Tony Scheffler and then a 30-yarder to Nate Burleson on third-and-19 at the Chargers 33. Stafford tossed a 3-yard TD to Kevin Smith on the next play. The Chargers went nowhere (yes, again) and the Lions cruised right down the field for another 74-yard TD drive. Brandon Pettigrew caught four passes for 47 yards and Stafford eventually hit Calvin Johnson for a 14-yard TD with 31 seconds left.

Key stats: So many to choose from, but start with Stafford: 21 of 26 for 260 yards and 3 touchdowns. Detroit had 18 first downs and 305 yards.

Not in the box score: Last time the Chargers trailed by 24 points at halftime was at New England in Norv Turner's second game as coach, in September 2007. It was 24-0 then, too.

THIRD QUARTER

Lions 31, Chargers 10

Key plays: After another Chargers punt, the San Diego defense actually forced a punt of its own and a 17-yard return by Antoine Cason (why wasn’t he in this role all year?) gave the Chargers good field position. An 18-yard Philip Rivers pass to Vincent Jackson and a 27-yarder to Vincent Brown (after a penalty nullified a 24-yarder to Antonio Gates that would have given him the Chargers’ all-time reception record) set up an 11-yard TD pass to Malcom Floyd. An onside-kick recovery by Eric Weddle gave the ball back to the Chargers, and after two more third-down conversions (passes to Randy McMichael and Floyd), San Diego had first-and-goal at the 3. But the Chargers had to settle for a field goal and Detroit immediately came back with its fifth long scoring drive of the day. This one went 80 yards, with Matthew Stafford throwing to Nate Burleson (17 and 12), Calvin Johnson (21) and Brandon Pettigrew (11 on third-and-7) to set up Kevin Smith for a 6-yard TD run with 16 seconds left.

Key stats: The Chargers allowed 31 or more points only three times in their first 13 games, against New England (35), Green Bay (45) and Chicago (31).

Not in the box score: Really, Donald Butler? You’re going to celebrate a sack with a dance when you’re losing 24-0? Only thing weaker than that was Detroit crowd doing the infernal Wave when the home team had the ball.

FOURTH QUARTER

Lions 38, Chargers 10

Key plays: The Chargers started the quarter strong, driving 78 yards to the Lions 2 with the help of a fourth-down pass to Antonio Gates that allowed him to break Charlie Joiner’s record for most catches as a Charger. A 24-yard pass to Malcom Floyd gave the Chargers first-and-goal, but Philip Rivers threw four straight incompletions to end the game, the season and likely the career of some very prominent people in the San Diego organization. Rivers then threw two interceptions in the final minutes, with the second returned 4 yards for a TD by Cliff Avril.

Key stats: The Chargers will not finish with a winning record and will not make the playoffs, both for the second time in Norv Turner’s reign as head coach.

Not in the box score: The Chargers had not gone two straight years without a postseason appearance since 2002-03.